Wednesday, August 29, 2012

My deepest thanks to marbleheadmaui of http://www.saddoboxing.com for posting this.

Mike Gibbons was the older and smaller of the legendary Gibbons
Brothers. Mike was mostly a middle and fought around the WWI years. How
good was he? How about 110+ wins against a dozen losses and he was never
knocked out. How good was the competition? Mike went 4-2 against HOFers
including a win over a young Harry Greb. In other words Mike Gibbons
was the real deal.

He published several books on training and boxing technique the following is taken from his How to Box
published in 1925. The book is seventy five pages of instruction with
extraordinary demonstration photos showing the Gibbons Brothers using
model technique. The book covers every element of the sport and I am
going to focus on his commentary on "Ring Generalship." As always the
ideas are Gibbons with any comments I might have in parenthesis.

Size Up the Opponent

Boxing generalship is planning your tactics and strategies.

If the foe is a thinking fighter one should begin cautiously so not to be led into a trap.

If he is merely a puncher, start fast and move to back him up.

Keep Him on the Defensive

At the opening bell come out confidently and keep walking forward until
the foe is in retreat. As you come forward feint and threaten and you
can move him backwards without throwing a punch.

Going backwards is far more difficult and tiring.

Occasionally back off just to change things up and make the other man think.

When you set the pace and have the initiative the fight being fought is your fight.

Don't Rush Wildly

Aggression requires brains, not brawn. You can be aggressive without even punching.

Try to take the lead at the beginning of each round and hold it
throughout. But don't go overboard. Save the hardest punching for the
second half of the round when the foe is tiring a little.

If you've noticed little faults in the opponent don't move on them too
early in the round. Wait until he's slowed a bit and is even more
vulnerable. (This is pretty sophisticated stuff, I'd have taken a shot
whenever I thought it would work).

Judges, reporters and fans remember what happens at the end of the round (See Ray Leonard v Hagler)

Never Lead Blindly

Never lead unless you know why you are taking a certain action. Otherwise you may walk into a trap.

When you hurt your man do not rush. Punch deliberately and with purpose
and do not forget to feint to open him up. Accuracy is more important
than volume in finishing. (See Joe Louis)

Develop Easy Style

A good style enables one to relax and conserve energy while leaving you in a position to be effective (Old Roberto Duran)

Keeping feet, shoulders and hands always moving a little one prevents
the strain that comes with being stationary (see Young Roberto Duran)

Feinting is a key to generalship. This is how one gathers information
on what the foe is tying to do and how he'll react to what you are
doing. (Nobody better at this today than BHOP).

Never be in one spot for longer than a moment (If there is ONE lesson for young fighters to learn this is it).

When you run into a fighter who is doing something hard to figure out?
When he starts it? Launch an all out attack. This will discourage him
from trying it. When he moves to doing something you are comfortable
with. Keep him there by LOOKING worried until you find the openings you
want (Mike Gibbons is a pretty smart guy huh?)

Box Your Own Style

If a guy likes to stand and trade? Don't. If a guy likes to retreat?
Make him stand and trade. (Versatility is a great advantage obviously).

Encourage a guy who likes to retreat to lead and attack (See Tommy Hearns and Wilfredo Benitez)

Encourage the punch you want to counter by making the foe miss his
other punches but let that punch land lightly or graze you. Next time?
He's going to throw it even harder and THAT is when you counter and
counter hard (Meet Mr. Floyd Mayweather)

Feint, feint, feint

Keep Cool When Hurt

Keep expression constant when taking a big punch

If not really hurt, attack and take the play away. Keep an eye out for the punch that hurt you.

If hurt badly? Clinch, clinch, clinch until your head clears. Do anything to survive.

If knocked down take whatever count you need to clear your head and no more. Then follow the guidelines above.

Keep Chin Protected

Keep chin tucked and try to take blows, that cannot be avoided, on the head, not in the face. (Again see BHOP)

Do NOT take a blow to land one. "The crowd at a boxing contest likes
to see a fellow stand up and take it, but their applause is poor
compensation for a tinned ear, broken nose or becoming mentally deranged
from continuous blows on the jaws or temple." (AMEN)

Don't try any blow or defensive move you can't employ properly. Experimenting should only be done in training.

Look Out For Traps

Do not fall for a foes in-ring talk

Always have an idea what you want to do, but never stay wedded to a plan that isn't working. Thinking in the ring is essential.

Click for larger pic Been in a Steven Seagal mood. Made some animated GIFs of him in action. Please check out this Steven Seagal movie....

Site Under Construction

Slowly but surely I've implemented changes to the site's look and functionality. I'm sure you have noticed the changes.Ecstatic that I've finally been able to successfully update my site closer more in line with my vision of it.

Not sure if it will be the final look of the site or not, but the Sojourn of Septillion Steps with respect to the site's look has already taken quite a few steps beyond the first!

I will still be endeavoring to put up information I think will benefit your martial arts training as well as your self-defense. I sincerely thank you for visiting/reading!